Fishing Facts: 5 White Perch Facts

The white perch may not be as well-known as some of the other species but they are an interesting fish. This species will migrate to tidal fresh and slightly salted water each year when it's time for the spring spawning. The white perch has a thin body and they are actually a silvery color with dark lines along the sides of its body. However, depending on the area where they are fished, they can also be an olive, grayish green or dark brown color on their backs. This color gets lighter as it goes down the sides.

The anal fin has three strong spines and it will be a rosy color on some of the white perch. They have two dorsal fins that are separate. The first fin has nine spines and the second one is soft-rayed. They have large scales compared to many of the other species and white perch have numerous small but very sharp teeth. They are sought out by anglers of all skill levels but they're a good species for the novice angler who's just starting out.

White Perch Facts

The white perch is considered an invasive species because they tend to overpopulate many of the areas where they're introduced. This overpopulation will stunt the growth of both the white perch and many of the other species in the area causing them to not be able to grow as large as they normally would. They are considered to be a member of the bass family but they are not a true bass. They are often called by other names such as silver perch, bass perch, narrow-mouthed bass, sea perch and silver bass.

They can be found in freshwater and salty waters along parts of the Atlantic coast. They are the most abundant along the Hudson River and the Chesapeake Bay and they can be found in many of the larger reservoirs in Maryland. They begin the spring spawning when the water temperature reaches between 50 to 60 degrees. This is when they are feeding the most aggressively. They will feed both day and night so anytime is a good time to seek them out. They will be closer to the shoreline at night and they will move out to the deeper waters during the day. Below are a few more interesting facts surrounding this species.

5 White Perch Facts:

1. The white perch is closely related to the striped bass but they are still not considered to be a true bass.

2. This species is fished in the Chesapeake Bay and parts of the lower Great Lakes commercially.

3. The oldest white perch recorded lived for seventeen years but the average life expectancy is five to seven years.

4. This species can be caught on worms, minnows, lures and streamer flies.

5. The white perch is considered a sportfish that is sought after for its sweet delicious taste.

The white perch may not be as well-known as some of the other species but they are popular with many anglers. Their average length is about ten inches and they weigh about one pound. This makes them a species that anyone can reel in. You don't need any special equipment to seek them out and they will put up a good fight for their size. This makes seeking them out fun and entertaining.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Go to http://www.askcrapp iefishing. com/editorials/ 5-white-perch- facts_.html for more information on crappie fishing.